Corona Devotionals

What are we doing with our lemons?   Lemons are so  sour.  Bitter.  To taste a lemon in its raw form causes our face to contort and our taste buds to revolt at their tart acidity.    When life  gives us lemons...what are we doing with them?   When life (circumstance/diagnosis/grief/sorrow/ reality )  in its raw form causes our heart and our spirit to contort, and our hope to revolt...what do we do? What are we doing with our life-lemons today?    The  Lord  himself goes before you and will be with you;  he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  ~Deuteronomy 31:8 ~~~ I've attended hundreds of soccer games for my kids over the years, but today I was blessed (for the first time) to sit in the stands for a power soccer  game...which is played by people confined to wheelchairs.   The wheelchairs are automatic (and fast!), and are outfitted with ...

Sin.  Consequence.  Discipline.  Justice. ~~~ I can remember occurrences back in grade school when a few kids would break the rules or abuse privileges in the school day, and then our whole class would have to pay the price and miss recess.   Sometimes the behavior and errors of others can affect us directly. And in Ohio, most middle schools will take a field trip to Washington D.C. to see the monuments, buildings, and offices that hold such meaning and foundation for our Nation.  But I know of at least one middle school class that was so irreverent, disobedient, and wild- that the entire class trip to D.C. was cancelled that year. Sometimes the behavior and errors of others can affect us directly. Such is sin and it's effects and affects over us and others.   To be sure-- we are sinful --every one of us.   ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  ~Romans 3:23 First--we must accept  our sinfullness, and ...

Many seek the ruler’s favor,  but justice comes from the  Lord . ( 27)  The righteous despise the unjust;  the wicked despise the godly.  ~Proverbs 29:26-27 ~~~ Many seek the ruler’s favor...  ~Proverbs 29:26 Do we know those that are seeking the rules favor ?  We know  who they are.  The teacher's pet.  The coach's favorite.  The kiss-up.  The one who is always seeking the favor  of the one in charge.   These people are exhausting.  Do we know one? Or... are WE one?  Are we exhausted in seeking favor from those around us?  Do we try and try and try  to gain acceptance, approval, and favor  from those that we view as rulers over us? Be freed of these exhaustive measures, Brothers and Sisters.   Many seek the ruler’s favor,  but justice comes from the  Lord ( Proverbs 29:26). ~~~ Justice comes from the  Lord ... have we felt it?   The blessing.  The ...

Have you ever witnessed (or stepped on/in) an ant hill or ant infestation?   Myriads of tiny ant-militia moving in all directions, and the sheer busy-ness of activity can be distracting, discombobulating, and overwhelming. Even just witnessing  the crowded (every direction) activity of an ant colony threatens my peace.  I didn't have ants in my pants today, but I did have ants in my mind.   Myriads of tiny ant-like arrows moving in all directions and puncturing my peace.   Worries, controls, fears.  Disappointments, expectations, goals.   The sheer busy-ness of these thoughts (and my lack of control over them) became distracting and discombobulating, and overwhelming. How will we fix  things today? How should we  confront  him or her today?  What will happen to me/my loved ones/our enemies today? Ideas and worries and frets...like a nts, ants, ants, ants, ants: all moving in different directions..all moving ...

I am not too proud to admit it...the cold broke me the other morning. I had weathered the past six to seven months of Ohio-cold fairly decently. I don't enjoy the freezing temperatures and scraping ice off of cars in the morning (every morning), but that is Ohio in the Winter, and (for the most part), I accept that. Like it, or leave it...(and many do), but I am (usually) okay with living where I do. It might have been the reality of sub-freezing temperatures in late April. It might have been losing feeling and circulation in my fingers (again) as I scraped windshields before we all set out for the day. It might have been a million other things that were out of my control that morning, but it became too much. I began to cry angry tears (directed at no one in particular) and I went inside. I ran warm water over my fingers until I could feel them again, and then I sat down and prayed , albeit angrily. Slowly, slowly, like circulation returning to frozen fingers...I felt it...